Vaginal photoplethysmography is the most commonly used method of assessing women's genital se... more Vaginal photoplethysmography is the most commonly used method of assessing women's genital sexual arousal. Raw photoplethysmograph data consist of a series of peaks and troughs, and movement by the participant results in artifacts indicated by unusually high or low peak-to-trough amplitudes. The gold standard approach to artifact detection involves visual inspection by a trained experimenter and manual removal of artifacts from the data set, however this process is time consuming and subject to human error. We present an automated data processing procedure that uses a series of smoothing regression splines to model the data and identify outliers. The automated procedure was applied to a set of neutral data and sexual arousal response data and artifacts identified were compared to artifacts identified by the standard approach of visual inspection. The automated method showed acceptable accuracy in terms of sensitivity and specificity comparable to the manual processing method. Th...
Women's sexuality is influenced by their perceptions of their bodies. Negative body appraisals ha... more Women's sexuality is influenced by their perceptions of their bodies. Negative body appraisals have been implicated in the development and maintenance of sexual concerns in women with a history of childhood sexual abuse (CSA). The sexuality of these women is often expressed in extremes of approach and avoidant sexual tendencies, which have been related to the sexual inhibition and sexual excitation pathways of the dual control model. To test the influence of body esteem on the sexual excitation and inhibition responses of women with and without a history of CSA. One hundred thirty-nine women with CSA and 83 non-abused women reported on their abuse history, depressive symptomology, sexual response, and affective appraisals of their body. Validated self-report measurements of sexual excitation and inhibition responses (Sexual Excitation/Sexual Inhibition Inventory for Women) and body esteem (Body Esteem Scale) were administered. Body esteem was significantly associated with sexual...
An orgasm in the human female is a variable, transient peak sensation of intense pleasure, creati... more An orgasm in the human female is a variable, transient peak sensation of intense pleasure, creating an altered state of consciousness, usually with an initiation accompanied by involuntary, rhythmic contractions of the pelvic striated circumvaginal musculature, often with concomitant uterine and anal contractions, and myotonia that resolves the sexually induced vasocongestion and myotonia, generally with an induction of well-being and contentment. Women's orgasms can be induced by erotic stimulation of a variety of genital and nongenital sites. As of yet, no definitive explanations for what triggers orgasm have emerged. Studies of brain imaging indicate increased activation at orgasm, compared to pre-orgasm, in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, periaqueductal gray of the midbrain, hippocampus, and the cerebellum. Psychosocial factors commonly discussed in relation to female orgasmic ability include age, education, social class, religion, personality, and relationship issues. Findings from surveys and clinical reports suggest that orgasm problems are the second most frequently reported sexual problems in women. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for anorgasmia focuses on promoting changes in attitudes and sexually relevant thoughts, decreasing anxiety, and increasing orgasmic ability and satisfaction. To date there are no pharmacological agents proven to be beneficial beyond placebo in enhancing orgasmic function in women.
Http Dx Doi Org 10 1080 02791072 1992 10471616, Jan 20, 2012
A wide range of both prescription and nonprescription drugs has been reported to affect human sex... more A wide range of both prescription and nonprescription drugs has been reported to affect human sexual functioning. While the sexual side effects resulting from drug use have often been attributed to adrenergic, anticholinergic or dopaminergic activity, the present review considers the potential role of serotonin. Based on animal studies, serotonin has been shown to either facilitate or inhibit sexual activity depending on which serotonin receptor subtype is activated. However, few studies have been done in the human that assess the effects of drugs that bind selectively to serotonin receptors. Consequently, little is known about the role of serotonin in human sexual functioning. In this review, a wide range of drugs that affect both brain serotonergic systems and human sexual behavior is examined in an effort to determine the possible role of serotonin in human sexual behavior. A review of the literature is consistent with the hypothesis that the 5-HT1A and the 5-HT2 receptor subtypes play a facilitatory role in human sexual behavior. The evidence suggests that drugs that act as agonists on these receptor sites enhance sexual functioning in the human, while those that act as antagonists inhibit sexual functioning.
Recent research has suggested that female sexual functioning may be strongly tied to sexual satis... more Recent research has suggested that female sexual functioning may be strongly tied to sexual satisfaction In some cases and weakly tied in others. The.Interpersonal Exchange Model of Sexual Satisfaction (IEMSS) constitutes a validated theoretical framework within which to explore this complex association. The aim of the current study was to explore whether sexual functioning represents an Important sexual cost that is closely linked to sexual satisfaction, and for whom. Data from 200 female undergraduates were analyzed to determine if sexuai functioning accounted for the association between sexuai costs and sexual satisfaction In women and whether this indirect effect was dependent on adult attachment anxiety. We found a significant simpie indirect effect wherein sexuai functioning accounted for the association between sexuai costs and sexuai satisfaction for the sampie as a whoie. However, attachment anxiety moderated this indirect effect; sexual functioning accounted for the association between sexual costs and satisfaction for women reporting low ievels of attachment anxiety, but not for women reporting high leveis of attachment anxiety. These findings suggest that, depending on individual attachment orientation, difficulties with sexual functioning may or may not represent key sexuai costs that are associated with levels of sexual satisfaction. Theoretical and practicai implications are discussed. Acknowledgement: This pubiication was supported by Grant Number ROl HD51676 from the Nationai Institute for Chiid Heaith and Human Deveiopment to Cindy M. Meston.
Vaginal photoplethysmography is the most commonly used method of assessing women's genital se... more Vaginal photoplethysmography is the most commonly used method of assessing women's genital sexual arousal. Raw photoplethysmograph data consist of a series of peaks and troughs, and movement by the participant results in artifacts indicated by unusually high or low peak-to-trough amplitudes. The gold standard approach to artifact detection involves visual inspection by a trained experimenter and manual removal of artifacts from the data set, however this process is time consuming and subject to human error. We present an automated data processing procedure that uses a series of smoothing regression splines to model the data and identify outliers. The automated procedure was applied to a set of neutral data and sexual arousal response data and artifacts identified were compared to artifacts identified by the standard approach of visual inspection. The automated method showed acceptable accuracy in terms of sensitivity and specificity comparable to the manual processing method. Th...
Women's sexuality is influenced by their perceptions of their bodies. Negative body appraisals ha... more Women's sexuality is influenced by their perceptions of their bodies. Negative body appraisals have been implicated in the development and maintenance of sexual concerns in women with a history of childhood sexual abuse (CSA). The sexuality of these women is often expressed in extremes of approach and avoidant sexual tendencies, which have been related to the sexual inhibition and sexual excitation pathways of the dual control model. To test the influence of body esteem on the sexual excitation and inhibition responses of women with and without a history of CSA. One hundred thirty-nine women with CSA and 83 non-abused women reported on their abuse history, depressive symptomology, sexual response, and affective appraisals of their body. Validated self-report measurements of sexual excitation and inhibition responses (Sexual Excitation/Sexual Inhibition Inventory for Women) and body esteem (Body Esteem Scale) were administered. Body esteem was significantly associated with sexual...
An orgasm in the human female is a variable, transient peak sensation of intense pleasure, creati... more An orgasm in the human female is a variable, transient peak sensation of intense pleasure, creating an altered state of consciousness, usually with an initiation accompanied by involuntary, rhythmic contractions of the pelvic striated circumvaginal musculature, often with concomitant uterine and anal contractions, and myotonia that resolves the sexually induced vasocongestion and myotonia, generally with an induction of well-being and contentment. Women's orgasms can be induced by erotic stimulation of a variety of genital and nongenital sites. As of yet, no definitive explanations for what triggers orgasm have emerged. Studies of brain imaging indicate increased activation at orgasm, compared to pre-orgasm, in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, periaqueductal gray of the midbrain, hippocampus, and the cerebellum. Psychosocial factors commonly discussed in relation to female orgasmic ability include age, education, social class, religion, personality, and relationship issues. Findings from surveys and clinical reports suggest that orgasm problems are the second most frequently reported sexual problems in women. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for anorgasmia focuses on promoting changes in attitudes and sexually relevant thoughts, decreasing anxiety, and increasing orgasmic ability and satisfaction. To date there are no pharmacological agents proven to be beneficial beyond placebo in enhancing orgasmic function in women.
Http Dx Doi Org 10 1080 02791072 1992 10471616, Jan 20, 2012
A wide range of both prescription and nonprescription drugs has been reported to affect human sex... more A wide range of both prescription and nonprescription drugs has been reported to affect human sexual functioning. While the sexual side effects resulting from drug use have often been attributed to adrenergic, anticholinergic or dopaminergic activity, the present review considers the potential role of serotonin. Based on animal studies, serotonin has been shown to either facilitate or inhibit sexual activity depending on which serotonin receptor subtype is activated. However, few studies have been done in the human that assess the effects of drugs that bind selectively to serotonin receptors. Consequently, little is known about the role of serotonin in human sexual functioning. In this review, a wide range of drugs that affect both brain serotonergic systems and human sexual behavior is examined in an effort to determine the possible role of serotonin in human sexual behavior. A review of the literature is consistent with the hypothesis that the 5-HT1A and the 5-HT2 receptor subtypes play a facilitatory role in human sexual behavior. The evidence suggests that drugs that act as agonists on these receptor sites enhance sexual functioning in the human, while those that act as antagonists inhibit sexual functioning.
Recent research has suggested that female sexual functioning may be strongly tied to sexual satis... more Recent research has suggested that female sexual functioning may be strongly tied to sexual satisfaction In some cases and weakly tied in others. The.Interpersonal Exchange Model of Sexual Satisfaction (IEMSS) constitutes a validated theoretical framework within which to explore this complex association. The aim of the current study was to explore whether sexual functioning represents an Important sexual cost that is closely linked to sexual satisfaction, and for whom. Data from 200 female undergraduates were analyzed to determine if sexuai functioning accounted for the association between sexuai costs and sexual satisfaction In women and whether this indirect effect was dependent on adult attachment anxiety. We found a significant simpie indirect effect wherein sexuai functioning accounted for the association between sexuai costs and sexuai satisfaction for the sampie as a whoie. However, attachment anxiety moderated this indirect effect; sexual functioning accounted for the association between sexual costs and satisfaction for women reporting low ievels of attachment anxiety, but not for women reporting high leveis of attachment anxiety. These findings suggest that, depending on individual attachment orientation, difficulties with sexual functioning may or may not represent key sexuai costs that are associated with levels of sexual satisfaction. Theoretical and practicai implications are discussed. Acknowledgement: This pubiication was supported by Grant Number ROl HD51676 from the Nationai Institute for Chiid Heaith and Human Deveiopment to Cindy M. Meston.
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